Author Identifier (ORCID)
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Abstract
Objective: The objective of this study was to explore Australian children's engagement in physical activity and screen time while being cared for by their grandparents.
Method: Grandparents (N = 1,190) providing ≥3 hours of weekly care to a grandchild aged 3–14 years completed an online survey assessing their grandchildren's movement behaviours while in their care. Descriptive statistics were computed for frequency of engagement in unstructured and structured physical activities, minutes spent playing outdoors, and minutes spent engaged in screen time. Regression analyses were conducted to assess socio-demographic predictors of movement behaviours.
Results: Playing in the yard was the most common form of physical activity in which grandchildren reportedly participated (77% ‘usually’ or ‘always’), followed by playing with toys/equipment (62%). Few (14–36%) frequently engaged in active transport. Children spent an average of 181 minutes per week engaged in screen-based activities.
Conclusions: There is an opportunity to improve children's movement behaviours while in grandparental care. Communicating to grandparents their importance in supporting an active lifestyle is warranted.
Implications for Public Health: Findings highlight the importance of creating environments that facilitate play-based, outdoor activities. Ensuring children have access to play equipment while in the care of grandparents and improving access to and quality of neighbourhood parks may assist with activity promotion.
Keywords
caregiving, children, grandchild, grandparents, physical activity, screen time
Document Type
Journal Article
Date of Publication
6-1-2024
Article Number
100146
Volume
48
Issue
3
PubMed ID
38772840
Publication Title
Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health
Publisher
Elsevier
School
School of Medical and Health Sciences
RAS ID
70141
Funding Information
This work was supported by the Western Australian Health Promotion Foundation (Healthway), research grant #34343. The funding source had no involvement in study design; in the collection, analysis, and interpretation of data; in the writing of the article; and in the decision to submit the article for publication. MJ is supported by a National Health and Medical Research Council Investigator Grant (#APP1194713). HC is supported by a National Heart Foundation Future Leader Fellowship (#102549).
Funding received from the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC)
APP1194713
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Jongenelis, M. I., Budden, T., Jackson, B., Christian, H., Nathan, A., Coall, D., & Glassenbury, E. (2024). Australian children’s physical activity and screen time while in grandparental care. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 48(3), Article 100146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anzjph.2024.100146
Comments
Jongenelis, M. I., Budden, T., Jackson, B., Christian, H., Nathan, A., Coall, D., & Glassenbury, E. (2024). Australian children’s physical activity and screen time while in grandparental care. Australian and New Zealand Journal of Public Health, 48(3), Article 100146. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.anzjph.2024.100146